Dodgers' top three arms to get final tune-ups

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Dodgers' top three starters will get final tune-ups for the playoffs this weekend against the Rockies, with Clayton Kershaw pitching on Friday night, Zack Greinke on Saturday night and Hyun-Jin Ryu on Sunday.

Kershaw headed to the airport when the Dodgers took the field for batting practice at AT&T Park on Thursday to assure he gets normal rest. The club will fly home after the game.

Manager Don Mattingly said Kershaw and Greinke, pitching on an extra day of rest, will be allowed to go longer than Ryu, who is on a normal five-day cycle.

Kershaw's previous start came on an extra three days' rest, while Greinke's was cut short after five innings.

Ethier resumes workouts after exams check out

SAN FRANCISCO -- Cleared by doctors after Wednesday's MRI and CT scan, Andre Ethier resumed working out on his injured left ankle with the team on Thursday.

Ethier is able to hit, catch balls in the outfield and throw. Manager Don Mattingly said the club will wait until next week to test Ethier on the bases, and determining his role, if any, in the first round of the playoffs might not be made until the last minute.

Because he won't be playing in the final three regular-season games, Ethier will maintain his swing in simulated games, Mattingly said.

Besides Ethier, Mattingly said he feels good about the physical condition of his club, which has been battered most of the season.

"Andre's the only guy," Mattingly said, although utility man Jerry Hairston has been sidelined with back spasms.

Kershaw named Roy Campanella Award recipient

SAN FRANCISCO -- Clayton Kershaw was named the winner of the eighth annual Roy Campanella Award, given to the Dodger who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame Brooklyn catcher.

The award, voted upon by Dodgers uniform personnel, will be presented to Kershaw by Campanella's daughter, Joni Campanella Roan, during pregame ceremonies Saturday prior to the 6:10 p.m. PT game against the Rockies.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will make a financial contribution to support the Roy and Roxie Campanella Scholarship Program at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and its Department of Physical Therapy at the College of Health and Human Development.

Dodgers' Hairston bothered by back spasms

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers utility man Jerry Hairston was unable to work out with the club before Thursday night's game because of back spasms.

Hairston, on the bubble for a postseason roster berth after the acquisition of Michael Young, said he felt the oncoming problem Wednesday night, when he played third base and had three at-bats, including a grounder up the middle that was scored an error on shortstop Brandon Crawford, robbing Hairston of an RBI single.

Hairston said his back hadn't bothered him earlier, although he's been slumping (0-for-19). He's hitting .321 with runners in scoring position, but only .179 as a pinch-hitter. Defensively, he's appeared at first base, second base, third base, left field and right field.

Mattingly: Selig did 'great job' as commissioner

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly tries to stay out of issues above his job, but he did have comments about the announcement that Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig would retire in 2015.

"Seems he did a great job to me," said Mattingly. "Labor peace for years. Seems like big strides in communication between the union and ownership. All the stuff with the performance-enhancing stuff. Getting more comprehensive testing. He's been great. The players have got to love him. They should."

Mattingly, a player representative during the 1994 strike that wiped out the World Series, conceded that he couldn't have predicted he would eventually feel that way about Selig, who was commissioner then.

"It would have been hard to think about it," said Mattingly. "There were so many battles every couple of years. Like anything else, it took '94 to say, 'That's enough of that.' Same with PEDs. The more it happened, the more comprehensive it got with better and better testing."

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.